Wenger compares national coaches to car thieves - World Soccer
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Confident of who will score in the Champions League this week? Click here to find out the latest odds. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has likened international managers to joy-riding car thieves. Wenger has often vented his frustration when some of his players return from international duty complaining of fatigue or carrying injuries. ‘Gerard (Houllier’s) thoughts […]
  • WorkingClass_Nero@alien.topBEnglish
    0·
    1 year ago

    Player welfare is so far down at the bottom of the list of priorities. It’s sad. Players should speak up. No matter how well they are paid, making them put their bodies through this schedule is just inhumane. Look at the domestic calendar for December. It’s bordering on abusive.

    • BearsPearsBearsPears@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Sadly, it’s the lack on financial incentive for national teams to place the same long term interest in the player’s welfare (although many clubs also can be wrecked in this regard). I can’t see any way around it that wouldn’t end up getting abused by either side, unfortunately.

    • themerinator12@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Players want to play these matches though - mostly because it’s not in a vacuum. If you pass up on international matches then you probably won’t get picked to play for your team once they do qualify since you turned your back on them. You also have to assume that many, if not all, of them actually WANT to represent their country even when they’re tired and/or injured so it’s not just about the tournaments.